Toy mail classification rack



Dec. 25, 1962 E. DEITCHMAN 7 TOY MAIL CLASSIFICATION RACK Filed Nov. 3,1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EVELYN DEITCHMAN BYM Dec. 25, 1962 E.DEITCHMAN v TOY MAIL CLASSIFICATION RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3,1958 INVENTOR. EVELYN DEITGHMAN 1962 E. DEITCVHMAN 3,070,234

TOY MAIL CLASSIFICATION RACK Filed Nov. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. EVELYN DEITCH MAN ATTOP/VEY United States Patent 3,070,234 TOYMAIL CLASSIFICATION RACK Evelyn Deitchrnan, 210 W. 230th St, Bronx, N.Y.Filed Nov. 3, 1953, Ser. No. 771,589 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-) This inventionrelates generally to toys or games. More particularly, the invention hasreference to a kit which can be used in play by children, in such amanner as to permit the children to perform the various functionsdischarged by post ofiice employees.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a kit or game ofthe character described that will be particularly attractive tochildren, so as to afford a high degree of amusement and entertainment.At the same time, it is proposed to provide a kit or game as statedwhich will have a valuable educational function. To this end, the kit isdesigned to provide the child with considerable training in respect toclassification and sorting of letters, reading, manual dexterity, etc.

Another object is to provide a kit or game as stated which will providethe child with valuable information and education as to post ofliceregulations, etc.

Still another object of importance is to provide a postal kit or gamethat will be comparatively inexpensive, considering the highly desirablecharacteristics thereof previously noted.

Another object of importance is to provide a postal kit or game whichwill be designed to be used over a long period of time withoutreplacement of component parts thereof.

Another object is to provide a postal kit or game which will include anovel rack, used for storing, sorting and classification of mail, whichrack will be of the knockdown type so as to permit it to be stored in arelatively small package while awaiting sale.

A further object is the provision of a rack which can be assembled frommetal plates or panels having curved or channeled ends for Securing theplates to each other.

A still further object is to provide a toy letter box also assembledfrom the metal panels with curled ends.

Another object is to provide a rack of the type described with nameplates for identifying various compartments thereof.

Another object is to provide means whereby the rack will have varyingnumbers of compartments, that is, the number of compartments can beincreased or decreased, as desired.

Still another object is to provide a post oflice kit or game which willinclude a toy letter box and letter rack which will be of knock-downtypes. In this way, it is proposed to permit the rack and letter box tobe packed more or less in a flattened condition, whereby the entire kitcan be packed in a flat box to lower the cost of transportatiion andstorage there of. Furthermore, the toy letter rack and letter box can beassembled and disassembled by the player at will.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following dscriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mail sorting rack, according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the rack on a reduced scale.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 44,respectively, of FIG. 2 and showing on an enlarged scale joints formedby metal panels according to the invention.

3,070,234 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 FIG. 5 is a plan view of a metal panelwith curved ends according to the invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on linw 66 and 77, respectively,of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a metal panel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a name plate used herewith.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a partition employed in the 'rack.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through a panel joint.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a toy letter box formed by panels ofthe type shown in FIGS. 5-8.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 1414 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a shelf employed in the rack of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, generally designated 18 in FIG. 1is a letter sorting mail classification rack embodying the invention.This can be of any size and can have any desired number of compartments.The rack is assembled from a plurality of panels 60 shown to bestadvantage in FIGS. 5-8. Each panel 60 is formed from a substantiallyrectangular flat plate of thin sheet metal. One end 62 of the panel iscurved or curled to form a transversely extending channel 63. Thechannel is open along its length, since the curved end extends arcuatelyabout 330, leaving a longitudinal opening of about 30. The curved end 62is somewhat resilient so that it can be flexed inwardly or outwardlyradially.

The opposite end 64 of the panel is also curved but has a larger radiusof curvature than end 62 and extends arcuately about 210*", leaving alongitudinal opening 66 of about 150. End 64 is quite flexible and canexpand to snap over the end 62 of any other panel. The end 64 issufficiently flexible that it can be expanded radially to engage asimilar end 64 of another panel. One edge 68 of the panel is curvedthroughout its length and hasa curvature whose radius is the same asthat of end 62. This long edge has a long opening 69. The opposite edge70 is curved throughout its length and its radius is the same as that ofend 64. Longitudinal opening 71 is pro vided in edge 70. All ends andedges are curved or curled outwardly from one side of the panel and theninwardly toward and past the other side. The end 64 can engage onedge-68 and edge 70 can engage on end 62. The engagement is done with aslight flexing outwardly of the outer curved member and a slight flexinginwardly of the inner curved member so that the engagement is maintainedfrictionally but the several members can be disengaged readily. Thelimited angular extent of the end 64 and edge 70 is intended to permitor more of angular movement of one panel with respect to another. Thisis clearly illustrated in FIG. 3 where one panel 60 is perpendicular topanel 60 and panel 60 is parallel to panel 60. All four corners 79 ofthe panel 60 are cut out rectangularly.

FIG. '4 shows how one panel 66 can be disposed perpendicular to anotherpanel 60 and the larger edge '70 of panel 60 is engaged within theenlarged edge 70' of panel 60?.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the rack is formed bythree upper panels 60 60 60*; three right side panels 60 60 and 60 threeleft panels 60, 60 and 60 three bottom panels 60 60 and 60; and threerear panels 60*, 60 60.

Ends 64 of panels 60 60 and 60* are engaged on edge 68 of upper rearpanel 60*. Edges 70 of panels 60 and 60 are engaged on edges 68 ofpanels 60 and 60,

3 respectively. Edges 70 of panels 60 60 and 60 are engaged within edge70 of panel 60. Ends 64' of panels 60 60 and 60 are engaged on ends 64of panels 60 60 and 60 respectively. Ends 64 of panels 60, 60

and 60 are engaged on ends 62 of panels 60 60 60, respectively. Edges 70of panels 60, 60 60*, 60 60 60 60, 60*, 60 60, 60 and 60 in order areengaged on the edges 68 of the next adjacent panels. Thus there isformed a rigid box structure with open front as shown in FIG. 1.

On the curved ends 62 of panels 60 60 and 60 may be engaged the curvedends 64 of name plates 74. These name plates may be marked withgeographical names 76, postal area or other postal designations. Ifdesired, the name plates may be left blank as shown in FIG. 9 formarking with any desired name or place by the player. Each name plate isa flat rectangular plate with a curved end 64 having a radius ofcurvature similar to that of end 62 of a panel 60.

In order to provide compartments, there are provided vertical partitions80 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11. These partitions havehorizontally extending open grooves 82. Into these grooves can fit theplane edges 83 of fiat plates 84 which form horizontal dividers orshelves. Plates 84, as shown in FIG. 15, are rectangular metal plateseach having two cut-out corners 79 and a single curved end 62 similar toend 62 of a panel 60. On end 62 can be hung name plates 74 as indicatedby the Texas, Vermont and Florida name plates. The

partitions are embossed or ridged at 85 to form the grooves 82. Theseridges can support horizontal shelves as shown by the supports forplates 84 and 84 Additional plates 84 can be inserted to make morecompartments or some of plates 84 can be removed at will to form largerstorage compartments While reducing the number of compartments.

To make the playing more realistic, a flag 86 having a post 88 can beinserted in channel 63 of the narrow curved end 62 of panel 60 The upperflat ends of partitions 80 fit into channel 69 in edge 68 of panels 60and 60 as shown in FIG. 1 and on a larger scale in FIG. 12.

The lower ends of partitions 80 fit into channels 69 in edges 68 ofpanels 60 and 60. The partitions and shelves can be slipped in or out atwill. The entire rack is easily assembled and disassembled.

A'form of letter box 10 is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. This box is formedof a smaller rectangular panel 60 which forms the front of the box. Alarger rectangular panel 60 forms the rear. Side panels 60 -and 60 aretrapezoidal, that is, each panel has an inclined upper end.

Bottom panel 60 is rectangular or square and upper panel 60 is alsorectangular and sufficiently large to cover the open top of the box withsome overhang beyond the front panel 60. The upper panel 60 is pivotableas indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 14 on the rear panel 60 because thecurved edge 64 of panel 60 is engaged on the smaller curved edge 62 ofpanel 60 The panels are interlocked at their edges and bottoms byengagement of edge 70 of each of the vertical panels on smaller edge 68of the adjacent panel, and engagement of the larger and smaller ends andedges of bottom panel 60 with the smaller and larger curved bottom endsrespectively of the vertical panels.

Slot 26 in panel 60 provides an opening for inserting toy letters andthe pivotable top 60 provides an opening by means of which the mailmancan remove the toy letters and carry them to the toy post office rack'18.

In use, the child according to the addresses which have been placed uponthe letters, sorts the mail, using the rack 18. Additional sortingoperations can be carried out until the several letters have all beenseparately grouped, according to the points of delivery. Then, they maybe placed in one or more letter boxes 10, these letter boxesrepresenting the boxes of the addressees.

The game thus has very attractive educational features, since it teachesthe child to classify objects and to achieve dexterity and speed inmaking classifications. Further, it teaches the child to reason, and atthe same time, provides highly desirable, extended periods of trueamusement for the child or children engaged in use of the kit.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent In a toy postal kit, a mailclassification rack, comprising a plurality of panels, said panels beingremovably interconnected to form an open box structure, a plurality ofremovable partitions disposed in spaced relationship in the box, and aplurality of shelves removably supported between the partitions, each ofsaid panels being a sub stantially rectangular plate formed of thinsheet metal, opposite ends and edges of each plate being curled to formopen grooves, one curled end of each plate having a larger radius ofcurvature than the other curled end of the plate, and one curled edge ofthe plate having a larger radius of curvature than the other curled edgeof the plate, the radius of curvature of said one end and said one edgebeing the same, and the radius of curvature of the other end and theother edge being the same, the larger edges of certain of said panelsbeing engaged with smaller edges of adjoining panels to form a top,sides and a bottom of said box structure, the panels forming the backhaving their ends engaged with rear ends of certain of the other panels,said partitions being perpendicularly disposed between the top andbottom panels, said partitions having spaced grooves and ridgessupporting said shelves between said top and bottom forming compartmentsin the box structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS852,304 Tilley Apr. 30, 1907 875,548 Miller Dec. 31, 1907 880,757 RuggMar. 3, 1908 1,114,567 Woods Oct. 20, 1914 1,170,691 SkipWorth Feb. 8,1916 I 1,198,524 Cunlifle Sept. 19, 1916 1,282,833 Holder Oct. 29, 19181,950,423 Wightman Mar. 13, 1934 1,971,612 Kidwell Aug. 28, 19342,127,047 Pinney Aug. 16, 1938 2,452,888 Woodward Nov. 2, 1948 2,578,691Gieseler Dec. 18, 1951 2,582,553 McMurtrie Jan. 15, 1952 2,797,819Lowmaster July 2, 1957 2,828,842 Plumley et al. Apr. 1, 1958 2,832,174Yip Apr. 29, 1958 2,918,996 Brown Dec. 29, 1959

